Human Rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has called on the National Assembly to pass a new Minimum Wage Act with the same urgency they demonstrated in enacting the National Anthem Act within 48 hours last week.
In a press release on Sunday, Falana emphasized that the National Minimum Wage Act 2019 has expired.
He stated, “Pursuant to the National Minimum Wage Act 2019, the national minimum wage was fixed at N30,000. By virtue of section 3(4) of the Act 2019, the national minimum wage expires after five years, and it shall be reviewed in line with the provisions of this Act.”
Falana noted that since the Act commenced on April 18, 2019, the national minimum wage of N30,000 has since expired. He highlighted that the Minister of State, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Honourable Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, announced during the last May Day rally in Abuja that the new national minimum wage would take effect on May 1, 2024.
Following the removal of the fuel subsidy last year, the Federal Government announced an additional N35,000 wage award (wage subsidy) for six months, starting from September 1, 2023. During this period, the total monthly wage payable to a worker was N65,000. Similarly, various state governments provided different sums as wage subsidies to their workers, with Lagos and Edo State Governments announcing a minimum wage of N70,000.
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